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With a back catalogue of 60 albums and more than 500 songs he composed, musician Reg Lindsay leaves behind a thriving Australian country music industry thanks to his groundbreaking work.
Lindsay died from pneumonia in Newcastle's Belmont Hospital shortly after 3pm (AEST) following a lengthy illness surrounded by his second wife, Roslyn Lindsay, his daughters Dianne, Sandra and Joanne and their families.
His son-in-law Peter Simpson said fans had flooded the family with condolence messages.
"There's been an absolute flood of phone calls and well-wishes. It's absolutely astonishing," he said.
Born at Waverley in Sydney in 1929, Lindsay spent his early years in Parkes and Adelaide.
As a boy he sought out country music across the radio dial and honed his skills with his first guitar, given to him by an aunt at 15.
In 1950 he left for Sydney on a motorbike to make his name in country music on radio station 2SM's Tim McNamara talent quest.
He won the final and in 1951 cashed in his first prize - a recording contract with Rodeo Records.
He shifted to Sydney in the early `50s, playing gigs in between stints in wool sales and as an ABC rural broadcaster before committing to music full-time.
His first country music radio program - the first of a string of platforms he gave to up and coming country stars - aired on Sydney's 2CH in 1952.
Later that year, The Reg Lindsay Show switched to 2SM and stayed there for many years.
In 1954 he married Heather McKean of the popular McKean sisters, and in doing so became the brother-in-law of Slim Dusty. Lindsay and McKean later parted.
He began hosting The Country and Western Hour on Channel Nine in Adelaide in 1964.
The program went national soon after and ran on Nine for eight years. Reg Lindsay's Country Homestead aired for another four years. The programs earned Lindsay four Logies.
In 1968, Lindsay tried his hand in the giant US music market and became one of the first Australians to be invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the home of country music.
His best-known hit, Armstrong, inspired by astronaut Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969, is part of a time capsule at NASA's space centre in Houston.
After almost 20 years travelling between the US and Australia, he returned home in 1986 and two years later met his current wife, Roslyn.
Lindsay won three Golden Guitars at the Tamworth Country Music awards in 1974, 1978 and 1980, and was inducted into the Tamworth Roll of Renown in 1984 and the Hands of Fame three years later.
He was awarded an OAM in 1989 for services to country music and the entertainment industry.
He suffered a brain haemorrhage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1995 and a heart attack the following year, and spent his remaining years in and out of hospitals.
© AAP 2008
Lindsay died from pneumonia in Newcastle's Belmont Hospital shortly after 3pm (AEST) following a lengthy illness surrounded by his second wife, Roslyn Lindsay, his daughters Dianne, Sandra and Joanne and their families.
His son-in-law Peter Simpson said fans had flooded the family with condolence messages.
"There's been an absolute flood of phone calls and well-wishes. It's absolutely astonishing," he said.
Born at Waverley in Sydney in 1929, Lindsay spent his early years in Parkes and Adelaide.
As a boy he sought out country music across the radio dial and honed his skills with his first guitar, given to him by an aunt at 15.
In 1950 he left for Sydney on a motorbike to make his name in country music on radio station 2SM's Tim McNamara talent quest.
He won the final and in 1951 cashed in his first prize - a recording contract with Rodeo Records.
He shifted to Sydney in the early `50s, playing gigs in between stints in wool sales and as an ABC rural broadcaster before committing to music full-time.
His first country music radio program - the first of a string of platforms he gave to up and coming country stars - aired on Sydney's 2CH in 1952.
Later that year, The Reg Lindsay Show switched to 2SM and stayed there for many years.
In 1954 he married Heather McKean of the popular McKean sisters, and in doing so became the brother-in-law of Slim Dusty. Lindsay and McKean later parted.
He began hosting The Country and Western Hour on Channel Nine in Adelaide in 1964.
The program went national soon after and ran on Nine for eight years. Reg Lindsay's Country Homestead aired for another four years. The programs earned Lindsay four Logies.
In 1968, Lindsay tried his hand in the giant US music market and became one of the first Australians to be invited to perform on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the home of country music.
His best-known hit, Armstrong, inspired by astronaut Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon in 1969, is part of a time capsule at NASA's space centre in Houston.
After almost 20 years travelling between the US and Australia, he returned home in 1986 and two years later met his current wife, Roslyn.
Lindsay won three Golden Guitars at the Tamworth Country Music awards in 1974, 1978 and 1980, and was inducted into the Tamworth Roll of Renown in 1984 and the Hands of Fame three years later.
He was awarded an OAM in 1989 for services to country music and the entertainment industry.
He suffered a brain haemorrhage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1995 and a heart attack the following year, and spent his remaining years in and out of hospitals.
© AAP 2008
